Rockets fall on southern Israel

A Qassem rocket heavily damaged a factory near Sderot. Shrapnel from the rocket penetrated the shelter at the factory injuring a man in his 50s. [Israel Sun photo]

JERUSALEM — Rockets continued to fall on southern Israel despite a truce with Gazan terrorist groups.

The Iron Dome missile defence system intercepted five rockets fired at Ashkelon shortly after the truce, which was mediated by Egypt and went into effect at 8 p.m. Sunday. Several rockets also hit southern Israel on Sunday.

An Israeli man, 50, was seriously injured by shrapnel when a rocket exploded near a factory in Sderot. A school in Sderot also was damaged by rocket fire.

Israel struck several targets in Gaza over the weekend, according to the Israeli military, including a terror cell about to detonate a rocket. Hamas reported that at least three Palestinians were killed in retaliatory attacks over the weekend, including a child and a terrorist.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the start of the regularly scheduled cabinet meeting on Sunday, said “the IDF is taking strong action against those who are attacking us and it will take even stronger action if need be. Our policy is to use force in order to restore security and quiet to the residents of the south.”

At least 150 rockets fired from Gaza have struck southern Israel since the cross-border attacks began last week, the Israel Defence Forces reported.